NEW YORK -- "American Idol" reject Sanjaya Malakar could meet President George W. Bush Saturday.

Malakar is attending the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington as a guest of People magazine.

Bush will be attending the annual dinner.

Malakar will share a table with People magazine's other guests, Valerie Bertinelli, Zac Efron of "High School Musical," comedian Eddie Izzard and Robert Kennedy Jr.

The unflappable 17-year-old singer endured weeks of harsh criticism about his singing skills from "Idol" judge Simon Cowell before he was finally voted off the show Wednesday night. The night before his departure, Cowell called Malakar's rendition of Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About" "horrendous."

Apparently Cowell wasn't the only one glad to see Malakar go. The singer, who is of Indian descent, didn't exactly have the backing of the country -- or at least the media.

"Sanjaya is voted off American Idol -- he's the only one weeping," read a front-page headline in The Indian Express, above a photo of Malakar's "ponyhawk" hairdo.

As for his ever-changing wild hairstyles, Malakar told AP Radio News Thursday that he wasn't frustrated his appearance overshadowed his singing. He said that was "just kind of my little joke."

Malakar even had kind words for Cowell, who had no kind words for him, saying he "learned more from him than from anyone else."